Our sports podiatrists at Sole Motion understand the unique strains and challenges that your body faces when you’re physically active. We also have comprehensive knowledge of how your personal factors, from your lower limb biomechanics to your specific training schedule, impact your performance, injury risk and much more. Sports podiatrists work with anyone that is physically active, from casual joggers to Zumba dancers to professional athletes.
We’re proud to have highly experienced sports podiatrists in our team here in Point Cook whose skills and knowledge in the sports sector exceed what a general podiatrist can help you with. We’ve shared this article to help you better understand what a sports podiatrist is, their skills, and whether it could be worthwhile for you to see a sports podiatrist.
Sports Podiatrists See Your Body Differently
Regardless of who you see, you can be assured that all podiatrists are well trained in understanding how the demands that sports and physical activity place on your body contribute to injury and the best evidence-based treatment approaches.
With sports podiatry, at least here at Sole Motion, our team is able to go that bit further to have a comprehensive understanding of the compensatory effects that an injury to the feet or legs will have on your sports performance (and your movement in daily life), your risk of a secondary injury directly related to your chosen sport and activity levels, the precise technique adjustments you need to support your recovery – and much more.
We consider sports podiatry to be one specialty of podiatry care, much like the specialty of children’s podiatry, where your podiatrist has notable experience and training in the field of sports medicine through postgraduate courses and trainings so they can add even more skill, insight and value to your appointment for a sports-related injury or problem. While they’re also skilled and qualified in all of the standard podiatry treatments and practices, sports medicine is a strong passion and area of interest.
Trusted By Point Cook And Across Melbourne
At Sole Motion Health & Sports Rehabilitation in Point Cook, we work with everyone from professional athletes to those just gently easing into a fitness journey for the first time. We understand that working with a sports podiatrist is not just about being able to participate in sports again, but that for many people, sports and regular exercise is a foundation for long-term wellness, disease prevention, a person’s strength and confidence – and more. This is why we take this field very seriously, and are proud to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based and exceptional care.
We treat everything from shin or knee pain to plantar fasciitis heel pain, muscle strains and sprains to stress fractures and more. We can also work to help improve a person’s sports performance, reduce their end-of-match foot and leg fatigue, and much more.
Your Sports Podiatrist Can Help You Return To Exercise Safely
One way that a sports podiatrist can benefit men and women at any physical fitness level is when they decide to get back into exercising after a break. It doesn’t matter how long the break is or the reason behind it – it may be after pregnancy and the postpartum period, after surgery and your recovery, a period of sickness, a vacation – for many it’s just when they stop exercising because life gets too busy. Either way, pushing yourself too hard when you return to exercise or presuming your body is still in your pre-break state is one of the leading causes of pain and injury we see – as well as the cause of one-third of injuries at the gym.
- Studies show that cardiovascular fitness can drop noticeably within just two weeks of inactivity, which means the heart has to work harder to get enough blood to your muscles. Unfortunately, people are more likely to lose their cardio fitness more quickly if they’re already athletic or a regular gym-goer.
- Similarly, when it comes to muscle strength, muscle mass can decrease in as little as two weeks of rest.
- For those that have contracted the COVID-19 virus, exercise has likely been out of the question, with experts recommending a minimum of “two weeks of self-isolation and rest from exercise, followed by a gradual return to exercise under the guidance of a medical team”. These experts go on to recommend that patients have a medical assessment and rehabilitation plan with specialists such as physiotherapists before they return to exercise at all.
This is where your sports podiatrist can help you return to exercise safely by assessing your foot biomechanics, muscle strength and flexibility, completing a video gait analysis, and creating a tailored plan to reduce your injury risk and optimise your function.
Your Sports Podiatrist Understands Gender-Specific Differences In Sports
Another thing we’ve noticed over our years of practice is that when patients come to us, they may have had some previous musculoskeletal care or rehabilitation that does not consider the significant gender differences in sports, that means that the best approach to treating a similar issue for both men and women may differ. To learn more about this, see our articles on women, sport and the higher risk of injury, as well as our article on the female athlete triad.
Your Sports Podiatrist Can Help Remove Your Painful Barriers To Exercise
Many of us may want to exercise, whether that’s starting or continuing our exercise journeys, but accidents, pains, our surgery history or conditions like chronic pain can make us think twice about committing to it – even if it’s just saying yes to a walk in the park with a friend. Even stages of life like pregnancy, work-related stress or postural stress can create barriers to exercise.
- Up to 79% of runners experience injury at some point, and these injuries typically involve the knees (up to 50%), feet (up to 39.3%) and lower back (up to 19.1%).
- Injury can have a significant impact on future exercise, as up to 17% of athletes are found to fail to return to their sport following an injury
This is where your sports podiatrist can help you make a smooth transition back into exercise – so you can both achieve your goals and reap the countless benefits of exercise. Engaging in regular exercise can also raise a person’s pain thresholds and pain tolerance, and reduce the number of regular pain flares that those with persistent pain experience.
Your Sports Podiatrist Can Help Prevent Future Injuries
While certain sports like cricket and football have high rates of sports-related injuries, all forms of exercise and sports carry a range of risks. Moreover, once you are injured, you may be more likely to have recurring problems or injuries if the underlying structures in your body are not effectively managed.
A sports podiatrist can carry out a comprehensive assessment to evaluate your physical function and identify any underlying concerns that may cause difficulty during exercise, including incorrect posture, muscle or joint weakness, balance, and more. From this evaluation, your podiatrist can provide you with exercises to prevent injury from occurring in your sports or leisure exercises, including stretching and strengthening exercises, manual therapies, and bracing to support existing injuries, and discuss how custom foot orthotics can help keep you supported and lower your injury risk.
Book In With An Experienced Melbourne Sports Podiatrist
While we welcome all referrals, you don’t need a referral to see one of our sports podiatrists here in our Point Cook clinic in Melbourne. Book an appointment with our leading podiatry team here or call us on 1300 FX FEET.
